page_title: Corythoraptor
section_title: Function of crest
hierarchical_section_title: Corythoraptor / Paleobiology / Function of crest
caption_attribution_description: Casuarius casuarius English: Southern Cassowary (also known as Double-wattled Cassowary, Australian Cassowary and Two-wattled Cassowary) in captivity in Australia.
context_page_description: Corythoraptor is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur from the late Maastrichtian Nanxiong Formation of South China. It contains one species, C. jacobsi, known from a single well-preserved skeleton, and named after paleontologist Louis L. Jacobs. It bears a tall crest similar to that of the modern cassowary, and possibly had a similar functionality of display and resonance to detect lower-frequency sounds. Like other oviraptorids, the bones of Corythoraptor were heavily pneumatized with many air pockets. Microanalysis of the bones indicates seasonal growth spurts, and the type specimen probably died at the age of 6 or 7, meaning growth continued into at least the 8th year of development. The type specimen reached 1.6 m in length. Oviraptorids may have predominantly inhabited arid environments and ate xerophytic plants, nuts, and seeds. However, Corythoraptor coexisted with six other oviraptorid genera, and they may have all eaten different foods.
context_section_description: The crest of Corythoraptor is apparently quite similar to the casque of the modern cassowary. The cassowary uses its casque to dissipate heat from the brain cavity, and as an resonator to aid in the detection or gauge the point of origin of low frequency signals across a greater distance. In Corythoraptor, the latter may have been used to hear predators or prey items, or possibly to pick up low frequency mating calls as modern cassowaries do. However, it is unclear if Corythoraptor was capable of producing low frequencies since these are produced in the throat. It is also possible the crests were used for display, with larger and more ornamented casques equating to higher ranking in the group hierarchy or better fitness during mating season, but cassowary casques do not vary very much between individuals. The cassowary-like crest, neck, and sharp claw may indicate Corythoraptor had a cassowary-like lifestyle.
caption: The crest of Corythoraptor has been compared to the casques of cassowaries
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